Lyr Add: Jefferson & Liberty (Campaign of 1800)

Subject: Lyr Add: JEFFERSON & LIBERTY (Campaign of 1800)
From: chico
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 06:00 AM

  AIR -- 'Gobby-O' 
  
       Em                                 D              Bm
  The gloomy night before us flies, the reign of terror now is o'er;
       Em                                Bm       D      B7     Em
  Its gags, inquisitors, and spies, its herds of harpies are no more!
  No lordling here, with gorging jaws shall wring from industry the food;
  Nor fiery bigot's holy laws lay waste our fields and streets in blood.
  
      Em               G                  D             Bm
  Rejoice! Columbia's sons, rejoice!  To tyrants never bend the knee!
       Em         D       Em|G      Am         B7            Em
  But join with heart and soul and voice, for Jefferson and Liberty!
  
  Here strangers, from a thousand shores compelled by tyranny to roam,
  Shall find, amidst abundant stores a nobler and a happier home.
  Here art shall lift her laureled head, wealth, industry, and peace divine;
  And where dark, pathless forests spread, rich fields and lofty cities shine.
  
  His country's glory, hope, and stay, in virtue and in talents tried,
  Now rises to assume the sway, o'er freedom's temple to preside.
  From Europe's wants and woes remote, a friendly waste of waves between,
  Here plenty cheers the humblest cot, and smiles on every village green.
  
  Here free as air, expanded space, to every soul and sect shall be
  That sacred privilege of our race the worship of the Deity.
  Let foes to freedom dread the name; but should they touch the sacred tree,
  Twice fifty thousand swords would flame for Jefferson and Liberty.
  
  From Georgia to Lake Champlain, from seas to Mississippi's shore,
  Ye sons of freedom loud proclaim the reign of terror is no more.

[Emotions ran high during the months prior to the election of 1800. Many who felt that laws passed during President Adams' administration, particularly the Alien and Sedition Acts, had infringed on their constitutional rights now looked to Jefferson as a symbol of freedom from oppressive government. Jefferson was elected in what has been called the "Revolution of 1800." The feeling of many people for the President-elect is reflected in the following verses, which were sung to a traditional Irish tune.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jefferson & Liberty (Campaign of 1800)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 06:15 AM

Was the source this book- "Songs, Odes, and Other Poems on National Subjects," compiled Wm. McCarty, 1842, pp. 172-175.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jefferson & Liberty (Campaign of 1800
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 08:52 AM

There's a fuller version in DigiTrad. Try a search for Jefferson.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jefferson & Liberty (Campaign of 1800
From: chico
Date: 30 Jul 05 - 05:34 PM

Source for this and most of recent postings: 'songs america voted by' (silber)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jefferson & Liberty (Campaign of 1800)
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 02:06 PM

Refreshing!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Jefferson & Liberty (Campaign of 1800)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 04:45 PM

The version of "Jefferson and Liberty" in the DT, copied from "The New Green Mountain Songster," came from "The American Songster," 1807, printed by David Heaton, Providence.
Music in "The New Green Mountain Songster" comes from the Woodstock Coll., MS of C. M. Cobb.
Don't know where Silber got the tune "Gobby-O" that Chico uses. See entry about this tune in the "Fiddlers Companion."

Subject: Lyr Add: JEFFERSON AND LIBERTY (Alexander Wilson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 12:41 PM

From The Poetical Works of Alexander Wilson: Also His Miscellaneous Prose ... by Alexander Wilson (Belfast: John Henderson, 1844), page 305:

[I have boldfaced the differences between this version and the copy in the DT. Also note that one verse (my #13) is in a different position.]


JEFFERSON AND LIBERTY
A PATRIOTIC SONG.
Air—"Willie was a wanton wag."

1. The gloomy night before us flies,
The reign of terror now is o'er,
Its gags, inquisitors, and spies,
Its herds of harpies are no more.

CHORUS: Rejoice! Columbia's sons, rejoice,
To tyrants never bend the knee,
But join, with heart, and soul, and voice,
For Jefferson and Liberty.

2. Hail! long expected, glorious day:
Illustrious, memorable morn!
That freedom's fabric, from decay,
Rebuilds for millions yet unborn.

3. His country's glory, hope, and stay;
In virtue and in talents tried,
Now rises to assume the sway—
O'er this great temple to preside.

4. Within its hallowed walls immense,
No hireling bands shall e'er arise;
Arrayed in tyranny's defence,
To crush an injured people's cries.

5. No lordling here, with gorging jaws,
Shall wring from Industry her food;
No holy bigot's fiery laws
Lay waste our ruined fields in blood.

6. Here, strangers from a thousand shores,
Compelled by tyranny to roam,
Still find, amidst abundant stores,
A nobler, and a happier home.

7. Here Art shall lift her laurelled head,
Wealth, industry, and peace divine;
And, where unbounded forests spread,
Shall fields and lofty cities shine.

8. From Europe's wants and woes remote,
A friendly waste of waves between;
Here plenty cheers the humblest cot,
And smiles on every village green.

9. Here, free as air's expanded space,
To every soul and sect shall be,
That sacred privilege of our race,
The worship of the Deity.

10. These gifts, great Liberty, are thine:
Ten thousand more we owe to thee;
Immortal may their memories shine,
Who fought and died for liberty.

11. What heart but hails a scene so bright?
What soul but inspiration draws?
Who would not guard so dear a right,
Or die in such a glorious cause?

12. Let foes to freedom dread the name;
But should they touch this sacred tree,
Thrice fifty thousand swords shall flame,
For Jefferson and Liberty!

13. O'er vast Columbia's varied clime,
Her cities, forests, shores, and dales,
In rising majesty sublime,
Immortal liberty prevails.

14. From Georgia to Lake Champlain,
From seas to Mississippi's shore;
Ye sons of freedom loud proclaim,
The reign of terror is no more.

[An earlier text is given in Oration, on the Power and Value of National Liberty by Alexander Wilson (Philadelphia: Printed by H. Maxwell, 1801), page 21.]